Car fans get first look at Fisker plug-in electric hybrid

GRAND CHUTE - Bergstrom Automotive is hoping to sell a little Karma - in the form of a plug-in electric sports car.

The Fisker Karma uses the power from your outlet to run the engine for about 50 miles. So far, people are being sold on the eco-friendly car.

“The way the world's going I think eventually everyone's going to be catching on to this trend,” said Grant Fisk.

However, many people drive more than 50 miles in a day, so when the electricity runs out, there’s a backup.

"It kicks into a gas engine, a little four-cylinder made by General Motors that will get you another 250 miles and it equates to about 100 miles per gallon,” said Tim Bergstrom, COO of Bergstrom Automotive.

Besides being a plug-in hybrid, the car has a lot of green features. The 405-horsepower car has a glass roof and solar panels to help power the air conditioner, so when you come out in the afternoon, you're not sitting in a hot car.

Bergstrom is the only dealer in Wisconsin for the Karma, and the car is not cheap. At roughly $87,000 (about $80,000 with tax incentives), it's a steep price for many people, but others see savings at the gas pump. Fisker says if you only use the electric engine, you may only have to fill up the tank once a year.

"For our travels here locally, I don't put on more than 30 miles a day, so it would be perfect," said Dave Leach of Omro.

"Plug it in at night, unplug it in the morning, and you should be able to go all day," said Fisk.

The Karma will be available next year at Bergstrom Premier Motorcars on Victory Lane just outside Appleton.